Ford Ranger ‘03

[billt]

Standard Auto batteries these day are junk. I used to get 5 to 6 years out of a good name-brand battery and now am lucky to get 3 to 4 max.

I think a big part of the problem is they are now shipped wet and charged from the manufacturer. And you have no way of knowing how long they are sitting on the shelf discharging before they are sold. It used to be they were shipped dry. Acid electrolyte was packaged with the battery, and was not added until the battery was sold.

The dealer would fill the battery with electrolyte, then charge it until the specific gravity was within the full charge range on a hydrometer. Today you are not receiving a fully charged battery. I've seen them on the shelves with the tops covered with dust. The batteries could be 6 months old or more. It is not good for a lead acid battery to sit in a partially discharged state. The plates immediately begin the sulfating process. Many are low on electrolyte as well. All of this removes useful life from a supposed "new" battery.

[Timothy]

Just had a flashback to the early 70's, worked in a 10 bay Firestone store...

50 car batteries and maybe four boxes/bags of battery acid in the back of a F100 driving through the city freeways of Grand Rapids...  Rear bumper was dragging, no steerage to speak of, 16 year old kid white knuckling it through town...

Good times...I think the two store managers were messing with me!

[PegLeg45]

At least jump starting technology is improving by leap-n-bounds. You can get a jumper pack that'll cold-start a V8 that will fit in a glove box.